Wait, Killer Whales Need Trees?

南方虎鲸和森林之间的联系比你想象的要紧密

The endangered southern resident orcas are in trouble. Their population has dwindled to 73. Their food source is scarce. They need help. That’s why efforts are underway to support this mammal, and one important part of the plan is tree planting. Yes, you read that right — trees.

海洋动物是如何依靠澳门威尼斯人游戏木生存的呢? 嗯,澳门威尼斯人游戏木遮蔽了太平洋西北部的河流和小溪. 奇努克鲑鱼依靠这些凉爽清洁的水道产卵. The young salmon then make their way back to the ocean, 在那里它们成为逆戟鲸(和其他饥饿的哺乳动物)的午餐.

从本质上讲,澳门威尼斯人游戏木确保这些虎鲸有规律的食物.

这些南方居民是谁,他们为什么要挣扎?

南方虎鲸在太平洋和萨利希海安家. 它们主要生活在不列颠哥伦比亚省海岸附近的水域, Washington, and Oregon, 但它们的活动范围从阿拉斯加南端一直延伸到蒙特利湾, California. 尽管自1972年《澳门威尼斯人游戏》颁布以来,某些类型的逆戟鲸的数量有所改善, the southern resident numbers have not rallied.

The reasons for this population’s struggles are well-known:

  • 栖息地干扰——“他们生活在一个更受城市影响的环境中,而不是北方的许多其他种群,” says Mike Ford, NOAA西北渔业科学中心的资深科学家.
  • 污染物——这与船只交通和城市环境的增加直接相关.
  • 近亲繁殖——由于南部居民的人口如此之少,这已经成为一个问题.
  • Lack of prey – A big part of their diet is Chinook salmon, 其中许多种群也受到威胁和濒危.

Orcas are voracious eaters, and southern residents feed on salmon in coastal areas, 包括哥伦比亚河等较大水道的入海口. “A big part of their diet is Chinook salmon,” notes Ford. “整个人口每年将吃掉20万到30万条奇努克鲑鱼.”

That’s a lot of fish. But unfortunately, 奇努克鲑鱼的数量在一个世纪前急剧下降,并且没有足够的反弹. 鲑鱼数量的减少甚至可能导致营养不良. According to the Marine Mammal Commission, 一些最近死亡的南方虎鲸表现出身体状况不佳的迹象, which could be due to poor nutrition.

A FOOD SOURCE FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL

在太平洋西北部的淡水和咸水中都有发现, 奇努克鲑鱼是一个关键物种,这意味着它们生态系统中的许多其他物种都依赖它们. 这些鱼是逆戟鲸、熊、海豹、大型猛禽和人类的晚餐. 它们也是生态系统整体健康(或受损)的明确指标.

哥伦比亚河中的许多鲑鱼种群受到联邦政府的威胁或濒临灭绝. The issues facing these fish are numerous, 但有两个问题是鱼产卵的溪流和河流的水温和水质.

Decades of deforestation, flood control measures, and irrigation have degraded waterways in this region. 创纪录的热浪和野火只会使情况恶化. “水质对鲑鱼很重要,包括水温和水中的污染物,” explains Kas Guillozet, 博纳维尔环境基金会流域高级项目主任.

Without healthy riparian forests lining their banks, 这些河流和溪流没有水过滤或澳门威尼斯人游戏荫,它们需要为鲑鱼从海洋返回产卵提供良好的淡水栖息地. “对许多这些种群来说,一个大问题是河岸栖息地的丧失. To the degree that that can be restored, or existing habitat protected, I think it’s really important,” adds Ford.

TREES FOR THE SALMON, SALMON FOR THE ORCAS

为了恢复河岸森林,太平洋西北部正在进行植澳门威尼斯人游戏活动. In fact, 植澳门威尼斯人游戏节基金会已将注意力转向美国西部,将其作为种植项目的优先区域. With more riverbank tree cover, fewer pollutants will make it into the water, and the shade will help keep water temperatures cooler. 这是支持该地区奇努克鲑鱼数量的一个步骤.

帮助这些鲑鱼是支持逆戟鲸的更大努力的一部分. “重要的是要认识到有很多问题影响着南部的虎鲸. 我认为通过植澳门威尼斯人游戏来恢复鲑鱼的栖息地是一件伟大而高尚的事情. 作为鲸鱼完整恢复计划的一个组成部分,这真的很重要,”福特说. 更稳定的食物来源意味着更健康的逆戟鲸种群.

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